50+ Birds of the Blue Mountains Australia - Includes stunning views and various bird behaviours
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 31 ม.ค. 2024
- This marvellous medley of beautiful birds was created from two years (Dec 2021 - Jan 2024) of footage collected in the Blue Mountains (NSW, Australia). This very special place is Gundungurra and Dharug Country. We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. We are grateful for the vital contribution of First Nations People to the knowledge and conservation of Australia’s birds.
While many of the birds shown here can be found in relevant habitats throughout the Blue Mountains, almost all the filming took place in the upper mountains town of Wentworth Falls and nearby sections of the Blue Mountains National Park (BMNP). Locations include the Kings Tableland, Jamison Creek, Nature Track, Undercliff-Overcliff Tracks, Den Fenella Track, Central Park, a private garden and Wentworth Falls Lake. One scene was gleaned from a smaller lake in “The Gully” Katoomba.
For this video we focussed on birds which frequent the towns and environs of the region traditionally known as the Blue Mountains (BM), rather than the much larger Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area (GBMWHA). To see more of the incredible bird diversity of the GBMWHA, check out our earlier production, “100+ Birds of the Capertee Valley” • 100+ Birds of the Cape... .
Although filming occurred in a relatively small area, it’s a microcosm of the vistas and vegetation communities that make up the BM region - moist cliff-ringed valleys, open forest and woodland, rainforest, scrub and heath, and modified environments such as public parks and cold-climate gardens. As the name suggests, Wentworth Falls is particularly blessed with water. Like much of the BM, there are several creeks, waterfalls and seeping rock-faces (and water features in gardens), but additionally, a large artificial lake. However, water birds are also regularly seen at “The Gully” Katoomba, Woodford Dam and Glenbrook Lagoon, just to name a few.
The video showcases various behaviours, such as foraging, vocalising, loafing, preening/allo-preening, bathing, bickering, swimming, flying, courting and raising young. Some birds were quite accessible as they frequented parks, gardens and bushland. For those adaptable, relatively common birds (e.g. Red Wattlebird) we tried to convey the variety of their food sources, both native and exotic. Knowing how birds use both natural and modified environments is important for conservation, as is understanding that some birds are truly dependent on remnant bushland and wilderness, and even particular plants (e.g. Glossy Black-Cockatoos and she-oaks). Although several parrot species (e.g. Crimson Rosella) often forage in cottage gardens, they need old eucalypts with hollows for nesting.
Relatively rare, threatened species can become video stars when the filming area is prime habitat (e.g. Glossy Black-Cockatoo), whereas we had just one opportunity with the more common White-headed Pigeon as the lower mountains is more their style. Perhaps the biggest surprise was the Speckled Warbler. This little bird is listed as Vulnerable and is associated with dryer lower-altitude woodland (e.g. Megalong and Capertee Valleys). Indeed, there are exceedingly few sightings in the upper mountains or BM generally on ebird.org. What a treat to see one foraging in a burnt area (hazard reduction) on the Kings Tableland.
It’s hard to choose video highlights with so many charismatic characters and fascinating behaviours. We think you will particularly enjoy Superb Lyrebird mimicry (13.39), Satin Bowerbird bower activity (16.02 and 19.17), an Eastern Spinebill on Grevillea acanthifolia (21.15), Australian Magpies carolling (34.56) and a Beautiful Firetail gleaning she-oak seeds (38.21).
The 57 bird species are listed here in order of appearance: Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo. Glossy Black-Cockatoo, Gang-gang Cockatoo, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Galah, Australian King Parrot, Crimson Rosella, Rainbow Lorikeet, Superb Lyrebird, Satin Bowerbird, Eastern Spinebill, New Holland Honeyeater, Red Wattlebird, Little Wattlebird, Noisy Friarbird, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, White-naped Honeyeater, Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Crested Pigeon, Wonga Pigeon, White-headed Pigeon, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Eastern Koel, Laughing Kookaburra, Welcome Swallow, Silvereye, Grey Fantail, Eastern Yellow Robin, Golden Whistler, Rufous Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, Speckled Warbler, White-browed Scrubwren, Brown Thornbill, Striated Thornbill, Variegated Fairy-wren, Varied Sittella, White-throated Treecreeper, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Pied Currawong, Australian Magpie, Grey Butcherbird, Olive-backed Oriole, Bassian Thrush, Red-browed Finch, Beautiful Firetail, Little Pied Cormorant, Great Cormorant, Masked Lapwing, Australian Wood Duck, Pacific Black Duck, Hardhead, Australasian Grebe, Great Egret, Australian White Ibis, Australasian Swamphen and Eurasian Coot.
Filmed, edited and produced by Darren Broughton and Thalia Broughton.
What a Wonderful collection...All my favourite birds.
Thank you. We have an awesome array of birds in Australia. Especially our parrots.
A stunning collection! Thanks for sharing Thalia and Darren 🙂
Amazing, thank you. We're incredibly lucky living in Australia.
Yes we are. Thank you for your appreciation.
Look forward to these compilations. Thank you.
Thank you for letting us know. With so much content available these days, we think having all the birds together in one video makes it easier for viewers.
Fantastic Lyrebird and Bowerbird footage, thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for the feedback.
such a treat